Motorist who ignores emergency traffic sign swept down flooded road

An elderly motorist who avoided signs warning not to use a flooded road was rescued this afternoon, along with his wife, after rushing waters swept them along South Stockton-Cassadaga Road in the Town of Stockton, Chautauqua County sheriff’s officials said.

John C. Vanscoter, 83, of Fredonia, disobeyed two barricades warning that the road was closed because of high water that spilled over the bank of Cassadaga Creek.

The vehicle lost traction, and began to get swept into a fast-moving current, after Vanscoter drove into water that was about three feet deep. He and his wife, Constance, 82, were saved by a Stockton rescue crew, according to deputies, and were taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk with minor injuries.

Vanscoter was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device after the 4 p.m. incident.